It happened in Tuscany

February 10, 2002|By Lisa Skolnik. Lisa Skolnik writes frequently about design and entertaining for the Magazine.

Everyone wants their wedding day to be memorable and remarkable, but most wedding parties end up being like every other. That's why Chicagoans Mia Velez and Michael Fortuna searched for a way to buck convention and court romance, finding the perfect spot for their marriage last June--a castle in the hills of Tuscany.

"Destination weddings" are increasingly popular, but Velez, 32, and Fortuna, 35, were motivated not by trendiness but by their love of travel and of Italy. "It's our favorite place, and both our families had never been there," says Velez. And though pulling it off can be tricky, it was no sweat for Velez. As a fashion stylist, she's an experienced, detail-oriented planner.

That's not to say it wasn't work, but "it wasn't particularly complicated or time-consuming," Velez says. In fact, a destination wedding often can take less lead time than a local wedding at a popular site. "But you do have to start at least six months in advance and cover all the basics," she advises.

The first--and most consequential--consideration is to "find your site," she says. Velez started searching for a location the previous November and did everything online. She found dozens of venues in Italy and asked those she found interesting to send her more information. Two weeks after she started looking, she selected the Rocca di Rasina, an exquisite castle in the Tuscan countryside that could accommodate the entire event and 20 guests. It was near another villa that could house 20 more guests, but most important, there was an on-premises owner, Patrizia di Rasina, who was able to coordinate everything.

Food and flowers were provided by companies based in nearby Cortona, and the orders were firmed up once Velez and Fortuna got there a week before the wedding and met with both suppliers. A deejay was hired from Rome, and two Chicago fashion photographers who were guests at the wedding--Jeff Stella and Michael Voltattorni--shot the event as the couple's wedding gift.

The bride and groom are Roman Catholic, so arranging the ceremony in this religious country was easy. "We used Patrizia's family priest and she took care of all the paperwork," says Velez. Since the priest didn't speak English, di Rasina also had a translator on hand.

Velez called her friends as soon as she booked the site to line up room reservations, so by the time invitations went out three months before the wedding, she had a good idea of the number of guests. In all, they invited 75 and 40 attended. Most stayed in Tuscany for the week after the wedding with the couple, and three couples went on to Capri with Velez and Fortuna for a final week abroad.

In retrospect, "It was much more intimate, romantic and meaningful for everyone involved," Velez says. "I think everyone who was there will remember it for the rest of their lives."

HOW TO PLAN A DESTINATION WEDDING

Location, location, location: Consider what a venue provides and how it relates to costs for you and your guests. Is the place easily accessible or a trial to reach; already equipped for giving parties or will everything need to be brought in; and interesting enough to tempt your guests as well as you?

Costs: Take into account airfare, local transportation, all party expenditures, room rates and potential activity fees. Draft a budget for the entire trip, including the costs of your stay (lodging, transportation and food); all the wedding particulars (food, flowers, music, photography and your attire); and entertainment for guests over and above the wedding. Also consider your guests' expenses, because this will determine who will really be able to afford the trip.

Guest list: Phone first. Months before the invitations go out, you'll need to know who's likely to come so you can reserve an appropriately sized venue, enough rooms and a means of transportation to the wedding and other activities if necessary.

Availability and amenities: Make sure there are enough rooms to house all your guests in close proximity to you and each other. Also remember that amenities (such as restaurants, workout facilities, swimming pools) and non-wedding activities for your guests will be important. Don't choose a venue that's so remote that there's nothing to do.

Contact person: Since you're here, you'll need a representative to see to everything there. Some wedding consultants specialize in destination weddings and have networks set up in certain venues, but you can also hire a local event planner.

Ceremony requirements: You have to follow the local laws, so find out what they are. You may have to adhere to both secular and religious requirements, including residency waiting periods, medical testing, filing specific documentation and observing specific customs and traditions. This is where a local contact comes in handy.

Invites and arrangements: Double the usual six weeks lead time for invitations to three months, and lay the groundwork for your guests by checking out fares, lining up ground transportation, if necessary, and reserving rooms long beforehand.